Fox: Bears won't renew Rivera

[Angus]

Bears won't renew Rivera's contract
Jay Glazer / FOXSports.com
Posted: 14 minutes ago

Bears head coach Lovie Smith is making long-term plans for the future of the team and one of the plans could surprise many Bears fans.

FOXSports.com has learned that Chicago has decided to not renew the contract of defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. Team sources say that Smith and Rivera met recently and agreed to allow Rivera to pursue other opportunities. The sources also contend that Smith will likely end up promoting Bob Babich from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator.

People inside the Bears saw this coming for a while as Babich has been reached out to from a handful of teams in the last two off-seasons and Smith, who unlike many other coaches does not block his assistants from moving up, did not want to lose him. Thus, the head coach had a tough decision to make and promoting Babich was his choice.

Babich is also viewed as more of a long-term option for Smith as Rivera was in the running for several head coaching jobs this off-season and last year. To this point, however, he has failed to land one. He did not sign an extension last off-season, which allowed him to be a free agent after the Bears' Super Bowl run. Most teams figured he'd get one of the vacant head coaching openings and as a result has been left out in the cold.

As for a defensive coordinator opening, there's only one open right now and that is Ted Cottrell's for the taking in San Diego. Still, now that Rivera is officially free another team may decide to make a run at a man who helped guide a unit to this year's prized game.

Rivera has been with Smith since he took over the head coaching duties in Chicago.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6485778

 

[TheSkaven]

From what I have read, Rivera was not fond of the cover 2 and was forced to run that defense under Lovie Smith. Now that the last of the head coaching opportunities has dried up, I'd love to see a Rivera here in Dallas as the defensive coordinator.

 

[aikemirv]

Bears won't renew Rivera's contract
Jay Glazer / FOXSports.com
Posted: 14 minutes ago

Bears head coach Lovie Smith is making long-term plans for the future of the team and one of the plans could surprise many Bears fans.

FOXSports.com has learned that Chicago has decided to not renew the contract of defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. Team sources say that Smith and Rivera met recently and agreed to allow Rivera to pursue other opportunities. The sources also contend that Smith will likely end up promoting Bob Babich from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator.

People inside the Bears saw this coming for a while as Babich has been reached out to from a handful of teams in the last two off-seasons and Smith, who unlike many other coaches does not block his assistants from moving up, did not want to lose him. Thus, the head coach had a tough decision to make and promoting Babich was his choice.

Babich is also viewed as more of a long-term option for Smith as Rivera was in the running for several head coaching jobs this off-season and last year. To this point, however, he has failed to land one. He did not sign an extension last off-season, which allowed him to be a free agent after the Bears' Super Bowl run. Most teams figured he'd get one of the vacant head coaching openings and as a result has been left out in the cold.

As for a defensive coordinator opening, there's only one open right now and that is Ted Cottrell's for the taking in San Diego. Still, now that Rivera is officially free another team may decide to make a run at a man who helped guide a unit to this year's prized game.

Rivera has been with Smith since he took over the head coaching duties in Chicago.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6485778

Would you take him as DC with Phillips mentoring him in his 3-4. I know that did not work with Zimmer but....

Just a thought.

 

[Hostile]

The dream lives.

 

[tomson75]

Would you take him as DC with Phillips mentoring him in his 3-4. I know that did not work with Zimmer but....

Just a thought.

I'd be interested, but the "win now" side of me would like to see him bring over his DB coach from SD or even to promote Bowles. I think some familiarity in one sense or another is a good thing.

 

[sago1]

What would Riveria bring to a 3-4 defense when he's devoted to the 4-3? Also Phillips has already stated he intends to do the defensive playcalling and that's why he not interested in a DC like Cottrell. Phillips wants either Pagano or Stewart as his DC cause either is familiar with his brand of the 34 and can help teach our players so the whole teaching process is not on Phillips shoulders and he can devote more time to determining how each of our players can fit into his system or how he can tweak his system to best fit a few of our players who need more help.

 

[hank2k]

Its pretty obvious now this was Lovie Smiths defense. Wether or not Rivera will be a good coordinator out of his shadow is up for debate, but Im glad Jerry didnt listen to the hype and hire him.

 

[theogt]

From what I have read, Rivera was not fond of the cover 2 and was forced to run that defense under Lovie Smith. Now that the last of the head coaching opportunities has dried up, I'd love to see a Rivera here in Dallas as the defensive coordinator.

If he wasn't fond of the cover 2 (which is obviously a 4-3 front), why would he be fond of the 3-4 when he would have next to zero input on the defense?

 

[tomson75]

What would Riveria bring to a 3-4 defense when he's devoted to the 4-3? Also Phillips has already stated he intends to do the defensive playcalling and that's why he not interested in a DC like Cottrell. Phillips wants either Pagano or Stewart as his DC cause either is familiar with his brand of the 34 and can help teach our players so the whole teaching process is not on Phillips shoulders and he can devote more time to determining how each of our players can fit into his system or how he can tweak his system to best fit a few of our players who need more help.

I agree with most of this, but I don't think Rivera is necassarily married to the 4-3.

...and if he could bring the tenacity and ability to create turnovers he showcased in Chicago to our 3-4, then sign me up for that bandwagon.

...but like I said, I think Stewart is probably the route I'd opt for, it seems like a good match.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Jerry sign him now.....please ray2:

He's been schooled in more than one defense. He started out with Buddy Ryan in Chicago then Jim Johnson in Philly. I'd love to see a defense that could play more than two fronts in Dallas.

 

[The Realist]

This guy played his hand now let him live with it.

Before his interview he said he would consider a lateral move.

When he got here he put his foot down and said HC only.

He's dealing with 2 things.....

A) Supposedly he's a horrible interview.

B) He's viewed as Lovie's puppet in Chicago.

 

[5Stars]

When he got here he put his foot down and said HC only.

He's dealing with 2 things.....

A) Supposedly he's a horrible interview.

B) He's viewed as Lovie's puppet in Chicago.

Where did you read all of this? I never read any of that!

 

[aikemirv]

This guy played his hand now let him live with it.

Before his interview he said he would consider a lateral move.

When he got here he put his foot down and said HC only.

He's dealing with 2 things.....

A) Supposedly he's a horrible interview.

B) He's viewed as Lovie's puppet in Chicago.

First of all, what is he supposed to say? "Hey Jerry, I am coming in here for a HC interview but would more than happy just to be your DC."

Right:laugh2:

and, secondly, we did not have permission to interview him as a DC. Any inclination that we were doing so could have caused ramifications for the Cowboys organization.

 

[Alexander]

Interesting.

So basically he is unemployed right now?

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Interesting.

So basically he is unemployed right now?

Seems crazy.

This guy must really be bad in interviews or something else people are missing.

Surely someone will pick him up as a DC.

 

[Hostile]

Interesting.

So basically he is unemployed right now?

Yes sir.

I hope not for long and he is on the phone to Jerry knowing we have an opening. I still think he is a good hire.

 

[Angus]

Yes sir.

I hope not for long and he is on the phone to Jerry knowing we have an opening. I still think he is a good hire.

He better be on the phone to Wade Phillips if he wants the job.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Yes sir.

I hope not for long and he is on the phone to Jerry knowing we have an opening. I still think he is a good hire.

I don't know if he would be a good hire now.

Wade has flat out said he will be in charge of the defense.

Not sure why someone would bring in a guy that is known for his 4-3 when you are going to run your own version of the 3-4.

If anything it would seem wade would want someone he has worked with before and who already knows his system.

That would be another coach he could help the players get the system.

Not sure he would want to hire a DC that he has to train in his system, get to know him well enough to trust him and other areas.

If we would have hired Norv or even another Defensive minded coach that wanted the 4-3, in that scenario I could see us bringing him in.

I just don't see the logic of doing it now.

 

[The Realist]

First of all, what is he supposed to say? "Hey Jerry, I am coming in here for a HC interview but would more than happy just to be your DC."

Right:laugh2:

and, secondly, we did not have permission to interview him as a DC. Any inclination that we were doing so could have caused ramifications for the Cowboys organization.

He didn't have to say anything, but he opened his mouth on both occassions TO THE MEDIA.

If he didn't want to people to think we were interviewing him as DC he should have ****.

He played Dallas DC gig as leverage in negotiations with the Bears.

Pay attention.

 

[ZeroClub]

Even in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, Rivera made it plain that he wanted to work some place other than Chicago (as a head coach or DC).

Bad break for him that a couple of the teams with available jobs are already committed to the 3-4.